This is a very early pistol in the Luger contract series with the Imperial Navy.  Originally designated the Selbstladepistole Model 1904 by the Navy for the first contract; this is a 1906 DWM (Deutsche Waffen und Munitions Fabriken) 2nds Issue.  This piece is a 6 inch (150mm) barreled 9mm Parabellum with the Navy adjustable rear sight and matching Navy magazine. The DWM monogram markings appear on the 1st toggle link and the extractor is marked 'Geladen' (Loaded).   This example has all matching serial numbers. The thumb safety is marked "Gesichert" and when exposed (safety down) means safe. This Luger is also unit marked to II Torpedo Division. (1631)

NOTE: Photographs taken today with the high mega-pixel camera show more than we sometimes can see with the human eye. Magnified close-ups show us tool marks and natural surface conditions that one normally doesn't see in the ordinary handling of the weapon.  Photographs are copyrighted, all rights reserved, any extraction, reproduction or display of gun pictures without the express consent of the Phoenix Investment Arms is strictly prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation.  Please read "Legal" for all the terms and conditions of the sale.

In August 1904 the German Navy underwent testing of 5, 9mm Selbstladepistole Model 1904 from DWM. The trial was successful and in September 1904 the Navy asked the Kriegsministerium to order 2,000 Model 1904 navy pistols as soon as possible.  Thus began to first acceptance of the P-04 'Luger' by the German military.  The 1904 Navy incorporated the new coil mainspring, the new extractor with the loaded-chamber markings.  These "improvements" were underway during the testing an acceptance of the navy model.

Serial number placement is in the civilian ("hidden") style.   The serial number appears on the front of the frame, on the bottom of the locking bolt, on the trigger, on the bottom of the barrel, the side plate, and under the first toggle. The safeties include both the grip safety and the thumb safety.

This is a very difficult gun to find in any condition. The German Navy was a salt-water service and the survivability of the German Imperial fleet was not enviable. Penned into the North and Baltic sea for duty the Navy spent a lot of time in port.  The Parabellums were initially issued with the safety up but then with the 1908 conversion to safety down the Navy recalled all the Luger's and had the thumb safety modified.  See Kenyon Lugers at Random Page 152.

The first toggle link is marked with the DWM logo.  There is the two-position (100-200m) sight on the rear toggle link and the last two digits of the serial number appear on the rear toggle.

The Marinen Proof and the 3 digit serial number appearing on the bottom of the barrel and the last two digits of the serial number on the stop lug. (We have lightened the number for your convenience.).

This Luger has all matching numbers. The three digit number is very low in the 1906 production range. The magazine is the original with the Marinen Crown Proof and the matching serial number. Here you can see the matching serial number of the barrel, the front of the frame, the locking lever and the bottom of the side plate plus the grips are numbered to the gun. The magazine is matching with the Marinen Crown Proof & the matching serial number.

This Navy is the classic; complete with matching magazine.  Note below the GELADEN showing the gun is loaded both visually and by feel by the shooter.  The wear on the side plate shows this gun was holstered most of its service life. The highlight of the rails and wear at the muzzle are further demonstrations of honest holster wear.

This is a pre-1916 long sear model that prevents the Luger from being cocked when the thumb safety (Gesichert - Above) is in the safe model   This problem was solved by one of Georg Luger's last patents shortening the sear on later models.

The interior of the Luger is in excellent condition with all the parts matching.  The Luger is shown in full recoil and one can the rear main axel pin (c) and the Imperial Navy proofs (a). By pushing the thumb safety up we can see where the grip safety connected to the sear stop can be engaged and move down to permit the sear to function. The Altered and Second Issue 1906 Navy Model show a clean space under the thumb safety meaning it was ready to fire.

Navy Lugers were always marked in an non-exposed manner as opposed to the Army guns which marked on the face of the side plate and locking lug.   Right: The Navy squeeze-type 200 meter rear sight.

In the "fire"  position and the toggle in recoil you can see the sear bar connected to the thumb safety when pushed up moves the sear bard down and permits the slide recoil.  Above Right: Thumbs down (Safe).

To understand the three variations of the 1906 Model we have to begin with the acceptance of the 1904 Navy. While the Navy was testing the Parabellum so was DWM, the Swiss, the Dutch and Bulgarians plus other countries which were testing the Luger. The requirements and request for changes we being sent to DWM and the majority felt the thumb safety was awkward in an up position. (The thumb safety began "UP" exposing the in-the-white polishing under the thumb safety when it was SAFE).

Then came the stamping of the "Gesichert" (Safe) instead of the polished strip which was down on the early 1904 and 1906 models.  To fire the gun you had to push the thumb safety down to cover the Gesichert.

The 1908 German Military accepted the Parabellum with the safety down, exposing an "up" Gesichert (Safe). The Navy didn't want to differ from the army in training so they ordered the the remaining part of their 1906 order with the safety down (up to fire) and recalled all the earlier guns to be modified similarly.  Thus the 1906 "Altered" the thumb safety is marked "Gesichert" and when exposed (safety down) means safe. 

Beginning in the Spring of 1906 delivery was begun for the true 'Pistole 1904'. By that time all the changes had been made to the toggle lock (eliminating) and changing the 60° dicing on the toggle-grip. There was the retention of the grip safety but the controversy over the direction of the thumb safety had begun. 

With the interior stamping of the serial number on the first toggle link and then the last two digits of the serial number on the back of the second toggle. BELOW: The breach (containing the firing pin) has the last two digits of the firing pin and the Imperial Crown of testing acceptance.

The original 1904 Model (with the toggle lock) were issued with the 'up-safe' thumb safety configurations.  So too were the original 1906 Models.

The German Navy then wanted the safety moved to the upward position to match the '08 models that had been issued. This resulted in the recalling of all the weapons issued and the thumb safety was reversed and the Gesichert was milled out (in some instances crudely filled).  So now we have the down-safe model. 

The picture at left is a 1906 1st Issue (Unaltered) and is a very rare specimen of this series. (This represents the gun for sale.)

Some of the originally issued guns were not sent back to the factory for the conversion of the safety and as such became are rarity.

This gun is known as a 1st Issue Altered. (This is not gun for sale.) This is an early altered example where the Gesichert is simply milled out.

Collectors refer to these as the 1st Issue Altered.  Then came the 2nd Issue (collector name) where the safety was filled, buffed and stamped in the down-safe configuration like the 1908 model.

The picture at left:  is a 1906 1st Issued Altered meaning that that gun was factory modified with the safety in the Upward Position. The Upper/Lower case is representative of the latter 1st issue altered.

As with the other Imperial DWM the thumb safety was 'straw' blued.

Here is a 2nd Issue, 1906 Imperial Navy.  Note how the block type has been reset to the upper location making this gun a true 2nd Issue.

So within the German WWI official designation of the Pistolen 1904 (Navy) collectors have established four categories briefly distinguished as Old Model (with the right rear toggle lock, - extremely rare); the 1906 1st Issue Unaltered (thumb up-safe, no toggle lock, very rare), the 1906 1st Issue Altered (thumb down-safe, milled/filled and re-stamped Gesichert and finally the 2nd Issue with the manufactured down-safe configuration (only 2000 reportedly made).

The grips are serial numbered to the gun and have the makers signs stamped in the wood.  On the rear grip is the IITD (2nd Torpedo Division) gun number 2412. 

The front and back of the gun showing the serial number on the front of the frame and back of rear toggle link.  The grip safety is the wide version which was the dictate of the Imperial Navy.  There is also the stock lug which was designed for the Navy Stock and Holster ensemble.

It is entirely subjective to give any Luger a rating of excellent or fine, just as it is to declare it xx% blued or strawed. Few Lugers are out of the box new and these are premium priced. Bluing percentages is like Beauty, in the eye of the beholder.  We strive to provide pictures so you can judge for yourself if the gun meets your criteria.